PROCEEDINGS 


OF THE 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN CONVENTION 

OF /" ' ■ ■ " • 


K*OUjr€^ 

OF THE 


STATE OF PEAASYEVAMA, 




JULY 4^ 1836. 


^IKTED AT TB£ OFFICE OF THE FSKESILTA^U BFFOETSB & 87AT4 FOUBFAE. 






1 


PROCEEBIMCiS, &c. 


Monday, July 1836. 


The delegates to the Democratic Republican Convention of the 
Young Men of Penns 3 dvania, convened this morning at the German 
Reformed Church in the borough of Harrisburg, at half past lOo’clock, 

A. M. 

When on motion of James Burnside, of Centre county, Samuel 
Jones, of Allegheny county, was appointed President pro. tern. 

On motion of Levi Reynolds, of Mifliin county, it was resolved 
that for the temporary organization of the Convention three secreta¬ 
ries be appointed. When Pierce Butler, of Philadelphia county, W;/i. 
S. Ramsey, of Cumberland, and Hiram 6’. Piatt, of Lycoming, were 
chosen. 

On motion of J. K. Findlay, of Lancaster, 

Resolved, That this Convention adopt for their government during 
their session, the rules that regulate the proceedings of the Legislature 
of Pennsylvania. 

On motion of Andrew G. Miller, of Adams, 

Resolved, That the names of the delegates from the several coun¬ 
ties be called in alphabetical order. 

When the following gentlemen appeared and took their seats. 
ADAMS. 

Samuel Blake, Jacob B. Lyon, Samuel Sherfy, A. Caldwell, jr. 
John Ziegler, John B. Marsh, John K. M’Curdy, Josiah Benner, John 
Geyer, Thomas M’Creary, Andrew G. Miller. 

ALLEGHENY. 

Z. M’Donald, Jas. A. Gibson, T. Campbell, S. Jones, W. O. H. 
Robinson, Thomas Hamilton, Hugh Toner. 

ARMSTRONG. 

James M- Guthrie. 

BEDFORD. 

Geo. W. Bowman, Wm. Schaffer, 

BERKS. 

Joel Ritter, Geo. M. Keim, William Wunder, H. H. Muhlenberg, 
John W. Tyson, Charles J. Faber, John Boyer, Jeremiah Snyder, Jo¬ 
seph C. Smith, Alex. P. Miller, John S. Rhoads, F. B. Schosner, 
C. F. Jackson, George W. Dewees, John R. Manderfield, Daniel B. 
Kutz, Samuel Myers, Benjamin Isett, John Heiner, Lewis Frank, 
Frederick Lauer, A. F. Boas, George Smith, Samuel Antrim, Peter 
Strohecker, Geo. Malsberger. 

BRADFORD. 

Charles Toucey, C. H. Herrick, Peter C. Ward. 










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BUCKS. 

Charles E. Du Bois, Daniel Y. Harman, John N. Solliday, John O. 
James, John S. Bryan, Huston Thompson, Thomas Ross, Tobias 
Worinan, William Field. 

BUTLER. 

Samuel A. Gilmore, Jacob Ziegler, Patrick Kelly, Jr. James Carson, 
Robt. D. M’Kee. 

CAMBRIA. 

Wm. A. Smith, William Latshaw, Thomas Withrow. 

CENTRE. 

James Gilliland, John T. Hoover, Henry H. Speice, James Burn 
side, Wm. H. Roushe, John H. Morison, J. Matlock Benner, David 
W. S. Cook. 

CLEARFIELD. 

D. G. Fenton, W. L. Moore, C. C, Hemphill, H. Warner. 

CHESTER. 

Isaac Powell, Edward F. Evans, James Monaghan, ^Ym. W. Down ¬ 
ing, John G. Bougbman, Isaac Evans, Davis Whitting, William £. 
Haines, Wm. Wilson. 

COLUMBIA. 

E. O. Jackson, F. Wilson, L. B. Rupert, B. Rush Pelriken, H. G. 
Saunders. 

CRAWFORD. 

Thomas J. Hurst, James P. Brawly, 

CUMBERLAND. 

Wm. S. Ramsey, Geo. W. Crabb, Wm. R. Gorgas, Jason W. Eby, 
Andrew Young, E. Brown, Samuel Black, Jacob Dorsheimer, John 
C. Dunlap, John C. Mitchell, Wrn. M. Mateer, John Clendcriin, Jr. 
Joseph Wyke, Geo. Hollinger, Joseph Haverstick, Jacob Longnecker, 
Wm. Stough, Samuel Davidson, Andrew G. Miller, John W^ightman. 

DAUPHIN. 

Hamilton Alricks, E. L. Orth, Josiah Espy, Geo. M. Lauman, 
Capt. John Wise, Dr. Wm. Bishop, Geo. W. H. Evans, D. Hume, 
Dr. Wm. C. Parke, Augustus Gallagher, S. D. Patterson, David 
Pool, John H. Briggs, Jacob Seiler, M. D. Holbrook, Frederick Show¬ 
ers, Dr. W. J. Sloan, Val. Hummel, Jr. Ovid F. Johnson, Walter 
Triewick, John Paul, Jr. W'illiam Snyder, John H. M’Allister. John 
Brown, Robert Kendig, Levi Bowman, Co!. M. W^hitley, J. Miller, 
Richard Fox, George Nagle, Jacob Baab, Henry Beader, Herman Al¬ 
ricks, Henry Buehler, Benj. Parke, Chas. F. Muench, Wm. D. Boas, 
James Buchanan, Joshua Fackler, Edward Bickel, Jeremiah Hoerner, 
^lomon Shindle, Archibald M’Michael, Samuel Marquart, Henr3' 
Sprigman, Charles Carson, Michael Burke John Brady, E. S. Kendig, 
W'ilUam Markward,W. B. Johnson, M. D. M’Donald. Samuel CasseT. 

ERIE. 

Alfred M. Clark, 

FRANKLIN. 

John Whitmore, John Smith, Lewis F. Heck, James Kill, John Gil 
more, James Gilmore. 


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HUNTINGDON. 

A. P. Wilson, Geo. Taylor, Wni. Buchanan, A. P. Owens, 0. G. 
Scott, A. S. Elarvison, J. B. Moorhead, Dennis Buoy, B. E. Betts, W. 

K. Rahm, George Jackson, Maj. Thos. P. Campbell. 

INDIANA. 

Thos. McFarland. 

JEFFERSON. 

Elijah Heath. 

JUNIATA. 

Robert Barnard, Jacob A. Christy, David H., Walker, A. Brown 
Norris, S. G. Nesbitt. 

LANCASTER. 

H. Blickensderfer, Dr. Levi Hull, Thomas Feran, Thomas J. 
Haines, Reah Frazer, Moses Montgomery, John K. Findlay, M. 
Manderback, Jr. Bayard Grosh, Thomas E. Franklin, Jacob Gilman, 
Edmund Haldeman, John Hakk, A. M. Cassaday, Joseph Cremer, 
Isaac Girvin, J. W. Hamilton, G. Blattenberger, J. J. Given, I. B. 
Carpenter, Isaiah McCarty, Sami. Humes, M. Bomberger, J. F. Rei- 
gart, John M. Jones, Geo. W. Herring, Wm. M‘Vay, F. Little, C. 
Newman, H. Nagh, M. Gross. 

LEBANON. 

Sami. Reinhard, Abraham Fernsler, Tobias Kreider, Christ, Eby, 
A .R. Harrison, Peter Rodearmel, S. H. Thome, Joshua Krause, John 
Sowers, Wm. Ritcher, H. W. Scott, Wm. Huber, Joseph Uhler, A. 
Ritcher, Jr. Cyrus Snevely, Benj. Moore, H. Zimmerman, Charles 
Reinohle, W. Shindle, Philip Loeb, Isaac Solliday, George Meily, 
Emanuel Meily, Jr. Michael Kohr, Jacob Weaver, George Pfleger, 
George Dinget, W. Bower, J. Breitenbach, Philip Holfa, A. S. Wolf, 
Lyon Lemberger, John Seibert, Samuel Sheck, Henry Winter, Sam’!. 
Long, Henry S. Goshert, A. W. Burns, E. P. Pearson, Samuel Shin¬ 
dle, John Breitenback, Jr. Flenry Meily. 

LEHIGH. 

Jacob Dillinger, John ShifTerstein, E. W* Hutter, David Lawry, M. 
H. Albright, William Gangewere, Augustus L. Ruhe, Jacob Erdman, 
Joseph Good, Abraham Rinker. 

LUZERNE, 

Flenry Colt, J. R. Dalrymple. 

LYCOMING. 

H. C. Piatt, F. W. Weiser. A. Cummings, Jr. Nicholas Funstan. 
MIFFLIN. 

Levi Reynolds, Jacob Forney, John Stoneroad, Thaddeus Banks, 
John A. Steel, A. S. Wilson, John M’Gee, W. Perry Robinson, Joseph 

L. M’Cay, James Edmiston, Robt. H. M’Clintic, James Hemphill. 

MONROE. 

Abraham Levering. 

MONTGOMERY. 

James H. Webb, Isaiah W. Davis, John S. Weiler, Enoch C. Fry, 
Charles W. Brooke, Geo. S. Williams, John B. Sterigere, Benjamin 


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Powell, John H. Hobart, James M. Moore, Enos L. Reiff, Jonas 
Smith, William H. Snvder, James Scheetz. 

NORTHAMPTON. 

W. L. Sebring, Josh. Howell, B. F. Thomas, Michael Meyers^ 
Jonas Lerch, Daniel W. Mixsell, Wm. J. Harmony, Charles C. Tom- 
bler, Joseph Sigman, C. E. Weygandt. 

NORTHUMBERLAND. 

H. B. Masser, C. Higins, C. Weaver, John W^. Miles, John 
Y(|^ngman, A. E. Kapp, John C. Bushop, James Dieffenbacher, S. tl. 
Steed man, FI. A. Kerr, Stephen Wilson. 

PERRYL 

Geo. Stroop, Samuel Schrack, E. Dromgold, Curtis Showalter,. 
Mitchell Steever, David Deardorf, James Wilson, Peter Shivley, Nim¬ 
rod Eby, J. K. Smith, JohnSouder, G. Carpenter, S. Shuman, Edward 
Miller, Edward S. Schwartz, J. L. Gallatin, H. Preisler, William 
Power, B. Shubert, W. Jackson. 

CITY" AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA: 

FrRST DISTRICT. 

David Etter, J. M. Pugh, Pierce Butler, John Thompson, Jr. Sam. 
F. Reed, Wm. W. Chew, Chas. V. Hagner. 

SECOND DISTRICT. 

Henry D. Gilpin, Edmund R. Badger, Thomas B. Towm, William 
V. Pettit, Thos. S. Stctvart, Morris Longstreth, A. M How'ell, John R. 
James, Robert K. Scott, Horn R. Kneass, Edmund B. Mixsell, Benj. 
Rush, Wm. J. Leiper, Alfred Hurst, Jos. Worrell, Jr. 

THIRD DISTRICT. 

John FI. Dohnert, Benj. E. Carpenter, Miles N. Carpenter, John H. 
Frick, John J. MGahen, Bartholomew Rees, Sam. Stevenson, Alex. 
M. Peltz, Morton M’Michael, Francis J. Harper, Robt. B. Knight, 
Thomas Weaver. 

PIKE. 

Solomon Westbrook. 

SCHUY"LKILL. 

Charles Frailey, Daniel Krebs, Edw. Huntzinger, Joseph Woolison, 
Jos. Ottinger, N. K. Seitzinger, E. Chichester. 

SUSQUEHANNA. 

Geo. Fuller, F. Lusk, Ferdinand Whipple, M. C. Tvler. 
TIOGA. 

Josiah Emery, YYm. Garretson, Aitemus Losey. 

UNION. 

Geo. Driesbach, John S. Ingram, J. M. Ekel, David Gutelius, Geo. 
Roush, Jackson M’Fadden. 

VENANGO. 

James R. SnowMen, Hugh M’Clelland. 
WASHINGTON. 

David Robinson, Flugh Workman, YVm. D. Morgan, 
WAYNE. 

William FI. Dimmick, Leonard Graves. 


WESTMORELAND. 

John Morrison, Joseph Russell, A. G. March'and, Henry D. Foster, 
J. M. Burrell, F. A. Rohrer. 

YORK. 

Wm. H. Kurtz, Geo. S. Morris, David Small, Alexander Sprung, 
T. N. Haller, John Rankin, Robert Lewis, A. J. Glossbren- 
ner, Henry B. Welsh, Thos. Jameson, Jr. R. J. Fisher, Isaac Garret- 
son, Henry Lattimer, Elijah Garretson, James Starr, Francis Godfrey. 

Herman Alricks of Dauphin being introduced, presented the follow¬ 
ing invitation from the citizens of Dauphin and the adjoining counties. 

“ Democratic Central Celebration.^' 

Gentlemen of the Convention: —The democratic citizens of 
Dauphin and the adjoining counties, deeply sensible of the dangerous 
inroads lately made upon'republican government and equal rights, 
have appointed us their representatives, respectlully to invite the 
members of the Democratic Convention of Young Men, to unite with 
their democratic brethren in a central celebration, of tliis anniversary 
of American Independence, and to renew the pledges given on that 
sacred day, by the fathers of the Republic, that the rights of the peo¬ 
ple shall and will be maintained. 

F. R. SHUNK, 

OVID F. JOHNSON, 
CHARLES C. RAWN, 
SIMON CAMERON, 

July 4, 1836. HERMAN ALRICKS. 

On motion ofWm. V. Pettit of Philadelphia, it was unanimously 
Resolved, That this convention accept the invitation with which they 
have been honored by the Democratic Central Committee, and that 
they will proceed to the place of celebration, in regular procession, 
headed by the President and Secretaries. Messrs. W. V. Pettit, W. 
A. Smith, Geo. M. Keim, J. P. Brawly and S. A. Gilmore were ap¬ 
pointed a committee to inform the Central Committee of the acceptance 
of their invitation. 

On motion of James Burnside of Centre county. 

Resolved, That this convention will wear crape during its session, 
and for thirty days thereafter, in memory of James Madison, whose 
life has contributed so essentially to the glory and happiness of his 
country and to the good of mankind. 

On motion of Francis J. Harper of Philadelphia, 

Resolved, That when this convention adjourns, it will adjourn to 
meet at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. 

On motion of R. Frazer, of Lancaster, 

Resolved, That a committee to consist of one member from the city 
of Philadelphia, and from each county represented in this convention, 
be appointed by the respective delegations, whose duty it shall be to re¬ 
port a President, twenty-eight Vice Presidents, one from each Con¬ 
gressional District, and four Secretaries, as officers of this convention. 

On motion of Samuel D. Patterson of Dauphin, 

Resolved, That a committee of three, be appointed to wait on 
the pastor of this church and request that he will attend on to-morrow 


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morning, at the meeting of the Convention, and open its deliberationa 
with prayer—and in the event of his absence or inability to attend, 
that said committee be authorized to request some other Clergyman 
to officiate on the occasion. The President appointed Messrs. Patter- 
son of Dauphin, Chew of Philadelphia county, and Manderfield of 
Berks, said committee. The convention then adjourned. 


TUESjyjiY, July 5ih, 1836, 9 o^cloclc, A. M. 

The President called the convention to order. The Rev. W. R. 
Dewitt was introduced by the committee appointed for that purpose 
and opened the proceedings of the convention by a very eloquent and 
appropriate prayer and having retired, the committee appointed to 
nominate officers, reported through their chairman, Mr. Burnside, as 
follows—which report was unanimously concurred in. 

JAMES R. SNOWDEN, President 


Dis. 

1 

2 

S 


Charles V. Plagner, 
Morris Longstreth, 
Francis J. Harper, 
Alexander M. Peltz, 
W. E. Haines, 

J. K. Findlay, 

Dr. Levi Hull, 

John B. Sterigere, 
VVm. Field, 

D. W. Mixell, 
Charles Frailey, 
George M. Keim, 

A. S. Wolf, 

R. J. Fisher, 


Dis. 

12 James Nill, 

13 John K. Smith,, 

14 Levi Reynolds, 

15 Henry Colt, 

16 Francis Wciser, 

17 J. Emory, 

18 G. W. Bowman, 

19 Dr. J. Morrison, 

20 James Gilleland, 

2 1 Wm. D. Morgan, 

22 Thomas Hamilton, 

23 D. G. Fenton, 

24 Samuel A. Gilmore, 

25 Thos. J. Hurst, 


Vice Presidents^ 

John W. Miles, Northumberland, 

Samuel F. Reed, Philadelphia county. 

Dr. Wm. A Smith, Cambria, 

A. G. Marchand, Westmoreland, 

Secretaries, 

The following persons were appointed as additional Secretaries, in 
compliance with the recommendation of the committee : 

E. W. Plutter, of Lehigh, 

P. C. Ward, of Bradford, 

F. Lusk of Susquehanna, 

J. T. Hoover, of Centre, 

A. Young, of Cumberland, 

W. Huber, of Lebanon, 

J. K. M‘Curdy, of Adams, 

Benjamin E. Carpenter, of Philadelphia county. 
W. PI. Dimmick, of Wayne, 

Thomas Campbell, of Allegheny, 

Jacob Forney, of Mifflin, 

Isaiah W. Davis, of Montgomery. 



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The officers having taken their seats, James R. Snowden returned 
his thanks to the convention for the honor of being elected presiding 
officer of the same, in the following very pertinent and appropriate re¬ 
marks. 

Gentlemen of the Convention:— 

In taking my seat as your presiding officer, I would do injustice 
to my feelings, if I did not express my deepest sensations of gratitude 
for this distinguished and unexpected mark of your confidence, and 
regard. The pleasurable sensations produced by your kindness, are 
only damped by my earnest solicitude to discharge correctly the duties 
which have been assigned me. But I trust in the discharge of those 
duties, that I shall not be mistaken in my expectations, that your 
kindness will induce a liberal allowance for my inexperience. 

Gentlemen: Permit me to say that I rejoice that considerations of 
patriotism and love of country, and of the pure principles of democra¬ 
cy, should have collected from all parts of the state, a convention so 
numerous and respectable as the present one. It augurs well for the 
country, and exhibits clearly and unequivocally, that a spirit is abroad 
in the land, which will regenerate our state from the recent misrule 
into which she was brought, through a most unfortunate division of 
our party. Of the causes of that division, we have nothing now to do. 
Let it however, serve as a lesson for futurity; let us learn wisdom by 
experience, and although it is a severe school, yet the lessons taught 
there make the deepest and most lasting impressions.—If we wish to 
redeem the state from aristocratic federalism and bank anti-masonry,, 
if we wish to preserve inviolate the genuine principles of our fathers 
which were proclaimed sixty years ago, we must he united heart and 
hand in the measure* There exists at the present period the most 
imperative necessity for union, concentration and action. The course 
pursued by the recent legislature, should excite the utmost alarm in 
the breast of every well wisher of his country’s prosperity and happi¬ 
ness; witness the outrageous insult upon the intelligence and liberties 
of the people, by the rechartering of that immense and aristocratic 
institution, the hank of the United States —witness the inquisitorial 
and proscriptive proceedings against a large portion of our fellow 
citizens,—witness the apportionment bill, and a multitude of others, 
all having a direct tendency to shake the foundations of our liberties, 
by disregarding the will of the people, and equal representation hy 
the people* 

Gentlemen: We have been delegated from our different counties, to 
perform a high and responsible duty. May I be indulged in the hope 
that the proceedings of this convention may be conducted, with that 
strict propriety that the nature and importance of our duties, so im¬ 
peratively demand; and I earnestly trust that our deliberations and 
proceedings will have a beneficial effect upon our beloved state and 
have a tendency to relieve her from the aristocratic measures which 
have been recently adopted, and advance the rights, the prosperity and 
the happiness of our constituents. 


10 


Henry D. Gilpin of Philadelphia City, moved the following resolu¬ 
tion which was unanimously concurred in. 

Resolved: That a committee of one from each congressional dis¬ 
trict be appointed, to prepare and submit to this convention the 
draught of an address to the people of Pennsylvania, calling upon 
them to unite heart and hand with their democratic brethren of the 
Union, in the approaching election of a President; and especially in¬ 
voking them as Pennsylvanians, to rally together and relieve the com¬ 
monwealth from an administration, which has violated the first 
principles of republican government, and forced upon us laws and 
institutions, against which the spirit of our people revolts. 

The following delegates were appointed said committee, viz:— 
Henry D. Gilpin, Thomas S. Stewart, John M. Pugh, Morton Mc- 
Michael, Reah Frazer, Edward VV. Evans, Thomas Ross, James H. 
Webb, Dr. H. H. Muhlenberg, C. E. Weygandt, W. H. Kurtz, A. 
G. Miller, George W. Crabb, A. P. Wilson, B. Rush Petriken, K. H. 
Stedman, W. S. Moore, Patrick Kelly, Wm. Latshaw, H. D. Fos¬ 
ter, S. A. Gilmore, Hugh Workman, Thomas Hamilton, Hugh Mc¬ 
Clelland, Jacob Dillinger, Solomon Westbrook, George Fuller and 
Ovid F. Johnson. 

Resolved, That the above committee have leave to sit, if necessary, 
during the session of the convention. 

On motion of Dr. Humes, of Lancaster, 

Resolved, I’hat a committee of seven be appointed to wait on ex- 
Governor William Findlay and the Hon. George Kremer, inviting 
them to seats in the convention. Whereupon Dr. Humes, Samuel 
Stevenson, Charles Frailey, James Sheetz, William Garretson, 
James Gilmore and John J. McCahen, were appointed said committee. 

Hon. George Kremer and ex-Governor William Findlay were 
introduced by the committee, and took their seats near the ITesident. 

On motion of A. Cummings, Jr., 

Resolved. That a committee of ten be appointed to propose resolu¬ 
tions for the consideration of this convention. The following were 
appointed that committee, viz: A. Cummings, Jr., W. H. Schneider, 
C. C. Hemphill, Samuel Jones, G. S. Morris, John S. Ingram, Pierce 
Butler, C. H. Herrick, C. E. Dubois and A. W. Burns. 

Convention took a recess until 11 o’clock, A. M. 

The convention convened again at 11 o’clock. Upon leave given, 
the Hon. George Kremer addressed the convention in a very able 
and spirited manner. 

On motion of William V. Pettit, 

The thanks of the convention be tendered to the Hon. George 
Kremer, who shortly after withdrew. 

William S. Ramsey moved the following resolution, which was 
agreed to. 

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it 
shall be to prepare and forward authenticated copies of the proceed¬ 
ings of this convention to the Hon. Martin Van Buren, the candidate 
of the Democratic Republican Party for the office of President of the 



11 


United States, and to Col. Richard M. Johnson, their candidate for the 
Vice Presidency. The following were appointed that committee, viz: 
W. S. Ramsey, Jno. Youngman, H. R. Kneass, Gen. A. P. Wilson, 
Daniel G. Fenton and John S. Weiler. 

Convention adjourned to meet at 3 o’clock, P. M. 

At 3 o’clock the convention convened. 

Wm. J. Leiper submitted the following preamble and resolutions, 
which were agreed to : 

Whereas, On the assembling of this convention, the whole country 
is in mourning for the recent loss of the illustrious Madison, the last 
and one of the most distinguished of those great men, to whom we 
are indebted for the foundation of our government, who for a long 
life, acted a most pre-eminent part in its administration, and who'led 
its destinies during the eventful period of that war which secured to 
us the benefit of the revolution, and established our character among 
nations, .Therefore 

Resolved, That this convention sincerely join their fellow country¬ 
men, in honor for the character, gratitude for the services, and mourn¬ 
ing for the loss of the illustrious statesman, who, in the language of 
his great successor, has died full of years and of honor. 

Resolved, That a copy of the above be forwarded by the officers of 
this convention to the family of the late President Madison. 

Henry D. Gilpin from the committee appointed to prepare an ad¬ 
dress, reported the following which was adopted unanimously. 

(The Address will be found appended to the proceedings.) 

A. Cummings, Jr. in behalf of the committee to prepare resolutions 
reported the following, which were unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That the democratic republican young men of the state 
of Pennsylvania, assembled in Convention, earnestly call upon their 
brethren throughout the commonwealth to sustain in the approaching 
contest, that foremost rank which they have hitherto held in the sup¬ 
port of free principles and honest men ; that they regard the election 
of a faithful champion of democracy to^he highest office of the Union 
as the final triumph of a just and honorable cause; and that they 
glory to be united now', as their forefathers always were, in the patri¬ 
otic fellowship vvith their brethren of the Union. 

Resolved, That w'e regard the union and harmony of the democracy 
of the key stone state, as essential to the welfare, the safety of our 
civil institutions, and as the only means of rescuing from the hands of 
ambitious and designing men their ill-gotten power, in the exercise of 
w'hich they have attempted to rule the free people of this common- 
w'eallh with a rod of iron. 

ResoWiid, That Pennsylvania regards, with unceasing admiration, 
the patriot whom she has twice honored with her suffrages for a post 
more to be envied than an imperial diadem ; and her citizens would be 
highly gratified to hail him before his retirement to the peaceful abodes 
of tile Hermitage, as her welcome guests 

Resolved, That the administration of the government of the United 
States during the last seven years, has been in accordance with just 


12 


republican principles, and has restored in practice to our beloved 
country that true system of democracy which the framers of our con¬ 
stitution intended to establish, and under which only the American 
people can consent to live: that our country is to be honored abroad: 
that our citizens are to be free at home: that we will submit to no 
foreign insult, and bear no domestic domination under any pretext or 
in any lorm:—These are the principles which have actuated the 
administration we approve, and will be the guide of that which is to 
succeed it. 

Resolved, That this Convention do cordially and unanimously con¬ 
cur in the nomination of Martin Van Buren of New York, as a candi¬ 
date for the Presidency of these United States, and that m presenting 
this distinguished individual to the support of the democratic young 
men of Pennsylvania and to the democratic party of our whole coun¬ 
try, they have in view not only the ascendancy of pure democratic 
principles, but they look forward to the continuance and perpetuity 
of those sound and patriotic measures which have distinguished the 
administration of Andrew Jackson, and which have contributed so 
much to the glory, happiness and prosperity of our country. 

Resolved, That Richard M. Johnson is a candidate lor the second 
office of the Republic, worthy of the support of democratic Pennsylva¬ 
nia : Because he has been a long tried and faithful public servant; a 
friend of the soldiers of the Revolution ; an efficient opponent of all 
interference with the rights of conscience; and a uniform advocate of 
popular rights and popular measures. 

Resolved, That we are opposed to the Bank of the United States, 
(falsely called a state bank of Pennsylvania,) in any and every form ; 
whether chartered by Congress or by the Legislature of this state ; 
that by its charter, a few individuals are invested with immense and 
irresponsible power, a power which has been and may again be exer¬ 
cised to enslave our liberties by controlling the freedom of our elec¬ 
tions; that we consider its existence, purchased as it had been with 
its dollars, as injurious to the real prosperity of our state, and danger¬ 
ous to that perfect freedom which we would ever preserve; that it is 
an aristocracy continued among us destructive of that first principle 
of our constitution—equal rights. 

Resolved, That we regard the course of tlie recreant Senators of 
this state, as a direct violation of the principles of moral and political 
honesty, and deserving the condemnation of every high minded and 
honorable man. 

Resolved, That we consider the present system of banking as an 
evil, dangerous to the principles of civil liberty, and whose encroach¬ 
ments should be watched with a jealous eye, by the disciples of him 
who has taught us that “eternal vigilance is the price*of freedom.” 

Resolved, That the mania in favor of chartering monopolies, grant¬ 
ing exclusive privileges to the rich, to the prejudice of the poor, is dia¬ 
metrically opposed to the principles of democracy and equal rights. 

Resolved, That in the passage of the late apportionment bill, in the 
State Legislature, whereby thousands of our fellow citizens have been 


13 


literally disfranchised and deprived of a fair representation, a bold at- 
tempt has been made to destroy the first principles of democracy, and 
the action of the popular will—and that we view this attempt as cor¬ 
rupt, wicked, and deserving the execration of the whole people. 

Resolved, That we view the late act of the legislature, requiring a 
registry of voters of the city and county of Philadelphia, as unconsti¬ 
tutional, partial and unjust; that it is the desperate measure of a fac¬ 
tion, calculated to give the rich man advantages over the poor one, 
and therefore opposed to the spirit of our institutions as well as to the 
letter of our constitution. 

Resolved, That in securing a decision of a majority of the people 
of this state in favor of a reform of our state constitution, we have 
achieved a signal triumph, and one which, properly used, will redound 
to the benefit of the people in all time to come. The age in which 
we live calls loudly for reform in every department ot life, and it will 
be the pride of the democracy of Pennsylvania to answer the just ex¬ 
pectations of the friends of fieedom throughout the Union. 

Resolved, That the cheering spectacle here exhibited by this enthu¬ 
siastic gathering of young men, directly in the face of the powers that 
be, thus “bearding the lion in his den,” is a sure guarantee tliat the 
democratic young men of this commonwealth know their rights, and 
knowing, dare maintain them. 

Resolved, That a Central Committee of twenty-three persons be 
appointed, whose business it shall be to forward such measures as 
may be necessary to ensure the election of the nominees of the Balti¬ 
more Convention; and that a committee of correspondence for a simi¬ 
lar purpose in each of the counties of the commonwealth now repre¬ 
sented in this Convention, be appointed by the respective delegations, 
consisting of such numbers as they may think proper. 

The following gentlemen were appointed the Central Committee, in 
obedience to the last resolution, viz: 


DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE. 
Hamilton Alricks, Dauphin County. 
Valentine Hummel, Jr. do 


Dr. E. L. Orth, 
George Nagle, 
Bernard Geiger, 

John Brady, 

Samuel Cassel, 

Jacob Seiler, 

George Oglesby, 
Marcus D. Holbrook, 
John Houser, 

M. McKinney, Esq. 


A. G. Marchand, Westmoreland County. 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


G. W. Bowman, Bedford do 

Thomas Livingston, Allegheny do 

Peter C. Ward, Bradford do 

Miles N. Carpenter, Philadelphia do 




14 


John Thompson, Jr., do. do 

Henry D. Gilpin, do City. 

James G. Campbell, Butler County 

William L, Sebring, Northampton do 
William Love, Centre do 

James P. Brawly, Crawford County. 

Z. McDonald moved as follows: 

Resolved; That a committee of finance consisting often members, 
be appointed to ascertain and make arrangements for delfaying the 
expenses of the convention; and further, that said committee cause 
to be published in pamphlet form to be distributed throughout the 
State and Union; 8000 copies in English and 4000 in German, ot the 
able address read by the Chairman of the committee appointed for 
drafting that instrument, and unanimously adopted by the conven¬ 
tion—also the resolutions and proceedings of convention. 

Z. McDonald, Samuel D. Patterson, Hamilton Alricks, Benjamin 
Parke, L. B. Rupert, II. Lattimer, E. C. Fry, John H. Morrison, 
J. R. Daliymple and C. W. Higgins, were appointed that committee. 

O. F. Johnson and Benjamin Parke presented sundry resolutions, 
which were referred to the committe on resolutions. 

Flamilton Alricks offered the following resolution, which was 
adopted without opposition. 

Resolved, That the Democratic Senators of Pennsylvania, who 
remained uncontaminated during the late corrupt session of the le¬ 
gislature, are entitled to our warmest thanks and the gratitude of the 
whole democratic party. 

Moved that the convention take a recess until 7 o’clock, which was 
carried. 

At 7 o’clock the convention again assembled. 

Mr. Cummings from the committee on resolutions; reported the 
resolutions which had been ofiered by Messrs Johnson and Parke and 
referred to said committee. 

Morton McMichael presented the following resolution, which was 
adopted. 

Resolved; That a committee of five be appointed to tender the 
thanks of this convention to the vestry and congregation of the Ger¬ 
man Reformed Church, for their kindness in allowing the delibera¬ 
tions of the Convention to be held in their building, appropriated to 
their public w^orship—and also to the Rev. Mr. De Witt, for his kind¬ 
ness in officiating at the opening of the convention. Said committee 
to be composed of Morton McMichael, S. D. Patterson, George Wil¬ 
liams, Dr. E. L. Orth and L. B. Rupert. 

Resolved, That the Convention adjourn to meet to-morrow morning 
at 9 o’clock. Carried. 




15 


WEDNESDJIY, July 6, 1836, 9 o’clock, Ji, M. 

The Convention being called to order, the minutes were read and 
approved of. 

A. M. Peltz, moved the following, v»^hich was approved of: 

Resolved, That the Central Committee have power to fill any 
vacancy that may occur in their body, and also to add thereto, if they 
shall think necessary or proper so to do. 

On motion of Mr. Cummings, 

The resolutions reported by him yesterday were withdrawn, for the 
purpose of enabling O. F. Johnson to introduce the following as a sub¬ 
stitute, which was unanimously adopted. 

Resolved, That as the deliberate sense of this Convention, the peo¬ 
ple of Pennsylvania have the right, and are in justice to themselves and 
their children, bound to exert it,—to determine the existence of the char¬ 
ter of the Bank of the United States—to abolish forever its dangerous 
powers—and to declare it null and void by the new constitution which 
they are about to form. 

F. Lusk, presented the following which was adopted : 

Resolved, That this convention cordially approve of the sentiments 
of the Hon. Martin Van Buren, as avowed by him in a late correspon¬ 
dence and course on the exciting subject of interference by citizens of 
the north, with the constitutional rights of our slave holding sister 
states of the south. 

Henry D. Gilpin presented the following resolution which was 
adopted. 

Resolved: That as Andrew Jackson, the venerable President of the 
United States is about to retire from his high and honorable trust, the 
democratic young men of Pennsylvania here assembled in conven¬ 
tion probably for the last time during his term of service, cannot per¬ 
mit the occasion to pass without tendering to him every token of our 
affection, confidence and respect; w'e devoutly hope that to whatever 
period the life ol any of us may be extended, we shall see the chief of¬ 
fice of our country, administered with the same prompt and energetic 
patriotism, the same lofty sentiments of national honor, and the same 
fidelity to the principles of pure and simple democracy; in conclusion, 
we trust that the evening of his days may be serene and tranquil, and 
that he may yet long continue to enjoy that happiness which springs 
ftom the remembrance of a useful life, and from the heartfelt gratitude 
of those whom he has served so well. 

Resolved: That the names of the delegates be attached to the 
address. Carried. 

On motion of Mr. Burnside, the following resolution was adopted; 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be also tendered to the 
chairman and Secretaries of the preparatory meeting of the delegates 
of the Convention. 

On motion of W, S. Ramsey, the following resolutions were unan¬ 
imously adopted : 

Resolved, That the members of this’convention assemble, together 


16 


from the various sections of this Commonwealth cannot separate 
without an expression'or the kindest feelings of personal regard ; they 
will long remember that if there has been any diversity of sentiment 
in debate, there has been none as to the principles for which we areal! 
contending, and they pledge themselves to honorable action in further¬ 
ance of the great cause of popular ascendancy. 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered to the Pre¬ 
sident, Vice President and Secretaries, for the able and important exe ¬ 
cution of the duties assigned them. 

Levi Reynolds presented the following resolution which w^as 
approved of: 

Resolved, That the proceedings of the convention be published 
in the Harrisburg Reporter and State Journal, and the German 
Aurora, being the only democratic papers printed in Harrisburg, and 
in all other democratic papers of the state. 

The President stated he had received a communication from 
E. Guyer, editor of the Harrisburg Chronicle, relative to certain 
observations made in the convention on the character and conduct of 
that print, on which it was moved that the communication be not re¬ 
ceived, which was unanimously .agreed to. 

The convention being about to adjourn, the president returned his 
thanks for the attention and’support he had received as their presiding 
officer and for the kind conduct of members one toward the other, 
by the following observations : 

Gentlemen of the Convention:— 

The resolution which you have adopted, lays me under addi¬ 
tional obligations, the recollection of which, I shall ever cherish with 
the most grateful emotions. I am satisfied, however, gentlemen, that 
my endeavours to discharge the high duties which you assigned me, 
would have failed m the accomplishment, if a proper sense of the 
dignity of the occasion, and the importance of the object for which 
we were assembled,had not been felt by the members of this con¬ 
vention. The objects of assembling together have been happily at¬ 
tained,and harmoniously consummated. We have borne with us to 
this place the feelings and wishes of our different constituents, and 
after a full and free exchange of sentiments, we have arrived at 
the gratifying and glorious conclusion that the democratic young 
men of Penmylvania are UNITED. We shall bear this truly plea¬ 
sing intelligence to our homes, and to the friends of liberty. It will 
spur us on to manly exertions; it will inspire our hearts with confi¬ 
dence and the inevitable result will be, the triumph of the principles 
of liberty and equal rights. 

Gentlemen: The friendly intercourse we have had with each other, 
the mutual exchuuge of amicable salutations, I trust never will be 
obliterated frcm our recollections; for myself, he assured, I will recur 






17 




to the reminiseences of this day with that enduring recollection which 
time itself shall not o’ershadow. 

The convention then adjourned. 


JAMES R, SNOWDEN, President. 


Charles V, Hagner, 
Morris Longstreth, 
Francis J. Harper, 
Alexander M. Peltz, 
Wm. E. Haines, 

J. K. Findlay, 

Dr. Levi Hull, 

John B. Sterigere, 
Wm. Field, 

D. W. Mixsell, 
Charles Frailey, 
George M. Keim, 

A. S. Wolf, 

R. J. Fisher, 


John W. Miles 
Samuel F. Reed,, 
Dr. TV. A. Smithy 
A. G. Marchand, 

E. TV. Hutter^ 

P. C. TVard, 

F. Luskj 

J. Z. Hoover., 


James Nile, 

John K. Smith, 

Levi Reynolds, 

Henry Colt, 

Francis Weiser, 

J. Emory, 

G. W. Bowman, 

Dr. J. Morrison, 

James Gilliland, 

W. D. Morgan, 
Thomas Hamilton, 
Daniel G. Fenton, 
Samuel A. Gilmore, 
Thomas J. Hurst, 

Vice Presidents. 

A. Young, 

TV. Huber, 

J. K. McCurdy, 

Benj. E. Carpenter, 

TV. H. Dimmick, 
Thompson Campbell, 
Jacob Forney, 

Isaiah TV. Davis, 

Secretaries. 


2 


ADDRESS 

Of the. Democratic Young Men of Peimsi/hajiia, assembled in 

Convention at Ilarrishurg, to the citizens of the Commonwealth^ 

July 4, i85G. 

Fellow Citizens —During the last few months, the democratic 
young men have met together, in near!}’ every county of this com¬ 
monwealth, and with a unanimity and zeal, perhaps, without a pre¬ 
cedent, expressed their views in regard to its present political position, 
and their determination to exert al! their energies for maintaining and 
restoring sound republican principles and practice. To this end they 
have chosen the delegates, now assembled in convention, to represent 
the sentiments that are entertained from one end of our commonwealth 
to the other; and, witii that determined unity of action, that generous 
harmony of feeling which become brethren of the same principle, con¬ 
tending in a great and honorable cause, to decide on and to recom¬ 
mend measures in accordance with those sentiments. From forty 
five of the fifty-three counties of this commonwealth, delegates thus 
chosen are in actual attendance. Their numbers form an aggregate 
of four hundred and fifty-three democratic citizens. Such a circum¬ 
stance is cheering to every advocate of democracy, since it shows how 
excited and how diffused is the spirit that prevails. Such a circum¬ 
stance makes us bold in the sentiments we express, and the measured 
we propose, since it gives evidence, which neither sophistry can per¬ 
vert nor calumny deny, that they emanate, with singular unanimity, 
from every portion of the republican family. 

Citizens of Pennsylvania! We are drawing near to the close of an 
eventful struggle. The great controversy, in which are involved the 
essential principles of democracy, must end in a few short months in 
their destruction or their triumph. The indications of triumph are too 
apparent to be doubted; but if they were less evident, it would not be 
less sure. This is not the hrst time such a contest has been y aged, 
and such a triumph achieved, it will not be the last while your yet 
unconquered spirit shall prevail. 

In every country where the seed of liberty has been sown, there 
has ever been the same contest between those who trust in and would 
extend the power of the people, and those who dread and would res¬ 
train it. To claim superior intelligence, to ask for wealth superior 
privileges, to distrust the temper, the wisdom and the measures of the 
mass of a community, and to offer, with complacent vanity, to save 
them from themselves; these are the sentiments of the one class, often 
frankly avowed, always perhaps confidently cherished. On the other 
hand, the friends of popular ascendancy believe it just to extend equal 
political privileges to every citizen; that it is impolitic and wrong to 
invest any portion with superior advantages or exclusive powers, ca¬ 
pable of abuse; that the surest trust is in the judgment and the conduct 



19 


of a majority of the people; and that the true end orgovernment is, to 
preserve the rights and liberties of every one, with the least possible 
restraint. The age may vary and the nation; but wherever any thing 
like freedom of opinion has prevailed, this line of distinction has been 
invariably drawn. It is the line which has forever separated the aris¬ 
tocrat, the conservative, the federalist, from the democrat, the liberal, 
the republican; the disciples of Hamilton and of Adams, from those 
proud to acknowledge the same rules of political conduct, with Jeffer¬ 
son and Jackson. 

Once heretofore, in the history of our country, have we witnessed 
an eventful struggle betweeen these great political sections. It is con¬ 
secrated as the contest of 1798, and it closed with the triumph of the 
popular party, two years after, in the elevation to the highest office 
of his country, of the champion and the candidate of democracy. 

The same struggle has again been witnessed in our day. It is 
that which now rapidly hastens to its close. The dormant energies 
of thirty years were aroused; hopes suppressed but not dead, were 
<]uickened into confidence; the hidden embers, that still burned beneath 
the ashes, were kindled into flame. All whom faction or party spirit 
could enlist, were banded together in common opposition to the popu¬ 
lar cause. Their old enmities were forgotten; friendships the most 
ludicrous were formed; principles were abandoned without shame;and 
no artifice was neglected to lessen, to deceive, and to allure those 
whose principles and power they endeavored to supplant. Display¬ 
ing, as had been done thirty years before, a mad confidence of success, 
they believed, from the calm silence of their opponents, that victory 
was gained. They exulted too soon in their fancied success. They 
showed too soon the real spirit by which they were actuated. They 
sustained and vindicated the impudent outrages of moneyed monopo¬ 
ly; they condemned without hearing, the chosen representative of the 
people; they drove from the public councils men of distinguished pro¬ 
bity and genius; they disgraced the halls of legislation by paroxysms 
of passion; and from oneend of the country to the other, they display¬ 
ed a spirit of persecution and proscription, the most odious and unpre¬ 
cedented. But the democracy of the country remained unmoved.— 
When their moment of action came, they rallied around the venera¬ 
ble man whom they had chosen as their leader, because his principles 
were their principles, his cause was their cause. The voice of the 
people, from Maine to Louisiana,gave prompt and undeniable evidence 
of success.—Since then two years are not elapsed; yet the proud lead¬ 
ers who were at that time opposed to us, confident of success—where 
are they now? Even among their own followers there are none so 
poor to do them reverence. 

Citizens of Pennsylvania ! This was the second struggle of the 
American democracy ; and it ended like the first. It only remains for 
us, now as then, to mark its termination as our fathers did, by eleva- 
tincT to the highest office in our gift its present champion and candidate. 
As^Andrew Jackson retires, full of honors and of years, shall we fill 




20 


his place with one who inherits and will support the same principles 
he has supported, will stand by the popular cause as he has stood by it, 
will oppose the old foes of democracy as ho has opposed them 'I To 
ask such a question of the republicans of Pennsylvania, is to receive 
their answer. As they closed the contest of 1798, by a vote of unex¬ 
ampled unanimity for Thomas Jefferson, the selected candidate of their 
party, and the known advocate of their principles ; so are they now 
ready, as we are well assured, to terminate with equal unanimity the 
contest of 1836, by elevating to the Presidency Martin Van Buren. 

It were, indeed, a sufficient title to our support, that he is presented 
as its candidate, without a single competitor, by the democracy of eve¬ 
ry state in the Union. It would be sufficient that he has been every 
where singled out, as the object of bitterest opposition, by those very 
men and that very party, who are notoriously opposed to us and our 
principles. It would be sufficient that amidst all the unfortunate divi¬ 
sions in our own politics, and in moments, too, of the warmest excite¬ 
ment, there has been no difference of sentiment in regard to him, no 
distrust of his principles or apprehension of his conduct. Yes! these 
circumstances would alone insure him the support of republican Penn¬ 
sylvania. But these are not the merits on which he rests, the claims on 
wdiich he is entitled to your support. When the American people, in 
the exercise of their unbiassed and voluntary choice, select a man as 
chief magistrate of fifteen millions of freemen, he is one whose princi¬ 
ples they know, and of whose genius, character and virtues they are 
justly proud. Have they not a right to be proud of Martin Van Bu- 
EEN as a citizen, a statesman, and a man? Trace him from his youth 
upwards ; he is found, on every occasion, zealous and active in the 
cause of his country. Behold him called to high places of political 
trust; in every crisis his admirable talents are displayed, his honest 
sentiments boldly and property avowed ; as if to disprove the slan¬ 
ders of his opponents, the public records, open to eveiy eye, display 
on every great question of policy his unequivocal opinion ; he is seen 
throughout his whole career, the protector of the worn out veteran ; 
the advocate and strenuous supporter of the late war ; the friend of in¬ 
ternal improvement in his native state though not of scrambling,lavish 
and indiscriminate expenditures by congress; the enemy of entang¬ 
ling foreign alliance; the prompt and manly opponent of reckless fan¬ 
aticism ; the uncompromising ibe of a national bank. Turn from 
the statesman to the man, for uncertain is the fruit of public service, 
not grafted on the stock of private morality and worth ; against his 
virtues, inquisitive envy and inventive calumny have scarcely ventured 
to utter a single charge ; in all the charities of life, in every social and 
domestic relation, he comes before his countrymen, without stain and 
without reproach. We do not condescend to compare him, in all these 
respects, with the persons selected by our opponents as their candidates 
for the Presidency, candidates with hardly a perceptible distinction; 
except notorious imbecility or political treachery; candidates who, with 
a sort of gratitude which the democrats of Pennsylvania are certainly 




21 


unfit to appreciate, have been suddenly thrust into the places of men 
prominent two yeai^ ago, and, at least, possessing talents not to be de- 
nied, however much their principles may be disapproved. Were these 
singular candidates, however, less indisputably unfit, it is enough to 
deprive them of all claim to our confidence or support, to unite us in 
determined opposition to them, that they are brought forward to sus¬ 
tain a political cause and pulitical opinions, against which the democ¬ 
racy ofPennsylvania has always been openly and successfully conten¬ 
ding. It would be a task as cheerless as invidious, to point out their 
inferiority to Martin Van Buren, in talents, intelligence, public service, 
political consistency, and private worth. 

Nor have the republican party of the Union been unmindful of the 
qualities and sentiments of the man, whom they have named for the 
second office in its government. Ricjiard M. Johnson has, in a long 
life of public usefulness, proved himself the steady advocate ofpopular 
rights, the warm friend, and the gallant defender of his country. His 
blood has been shed in her behalf; he bears honourable wounds gal¬ 
lantly received in her defence. His political career is marked by a 
devotion that has never flagged, to measures deeply interesting to the 
republic* Year after year, has he brought forward, and advocated 
with untiring zeal, the cause of the poor and aged soldier; year after 
year has he resisted the various attempts, made in various forms, to 
introduce the plans of mistaken religious zeal; year after year has he 
contended for the abolition of imprisonment for debt, of punishment 
for misfortune. These, and other noble and oft repeated actions, in 
the cause of enlightened philanthropy and true republicanism, have 
justly endeared him to his countrymen, give him a claim on their sup¬ 
port, and make him worthy of their confidence and choice. 

We invoke then the Democracy of Pennsylvania, to aid in electing 
Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, to the high offices to 
which they have been nominated, because they are citizens worthy of 
that honour. But we invoke them much more anxiously to do so, be¬ 
cause in their elevation they promote and maintain the ascendancy of 
free, just, enlightened, and liberal principles of government. If we suc¬ 
ceed now the triumph of democracy is secured ; its duration is ren¬ 
dered yet more certain; it will gain new vigour from the contest that 
has past; it will show that America hastens onward in thespirit of the 
age; it will prove that we keep the lead in the march of freedom now, 
as our forefathers took it, half a century ago. That we can succeed 
and that vve ought to, who can doubt I Surely the object is worthy of 
every exertion. While it secures to us that which we confidently 
consider as connected with the present well-being of our beloved coun¬ 
try, it will at the same time give an example to those who are to come 
after us, when similar political contests shall arise; and it will contri¬ 
bute something, as we devoutly hope, to prolong those glorious institu¬ 
tions which we class among the choicest blessings, that Pleaven has 
conferred upon our race. 

Citizens ofPennsylvania ! We have addressed you as members cj 



22 


the American Union ; as part of that proud confederacy to which you 
ha\ c ever shown the most devoted aflection. We have appealed to 
you to give renewed evidence of that affection at this important mo¬ 
ment. We arc sure that it still glows with an ardour not abated, and 
that it will unite you, heart and hand, with your brethren now, as it 
has done so often lieretofore. Permit us, however, before we close, to 
address you as Pennsylvanians; to address you as forming that repub¬ 
lican phalanx, which has owed so much of its just influence abroad, to 
its unanimity, its ascendancy, its steady adherence to its principles, at 
home. Our divisions, by giving to our opponents a brief authority, 
have brought out, in lights the most glaring, the motives which will 
govern them. We have seen, in the headlong measures of a few 
short months, that once possessing the power, they will exert it, with 
shameful audacity, to fix upon the people of lliis commonwealth laws 
and institutions against which the whole spirit of democracy revolts. 
We are called at once to the rescue. Actions have made that voice 
so loud, that we cannot, we dare not, refuse to listen to it. The sa¬ 
cred altar of freedom has been recklessly profaned, by unworthy intru¬ 
ders who have invaded her sanctuary. It is our duty to redeem it 
from pollution; a duty which we have no right for a moment to post¬ 
pone. 

For seven months the opponents of the democratic party, represent¬ 
ing a minority of the people, and strangely joined in discordant coali¬ 
tion, liave wielded the government of this commonwealth. Look at 
the reckless conduct they have displayed in the giddiness of power! 
Look at the laws which they have passed, and under which we are at 
this very moment forced lo live, and tell us if there is a single democrat 
in our state \vho is willing passively to submit? 

Not content with the period which has long sufficed for all the public 
business, an additional session of the Legislature has been held, on 
pretexts the most flimsy, but in reality to prolong if possible, by politi¬ 
cal schemes, the power thus acquired and abused. A wanton expen¬ 
diture of thirty-two thousand dollars has been thus wrested from the 
earnings of the people, and added to their already accumulated taxes. 
The wishes of a large majority for a Convention, to alter and amend 
our form of government, instead of being promptly acceded to, in ac¬ 
cordance with that duty which a representative ow'es to a constituent, 
have been subjected to postponement equally unnecessary and improp¬ 
er. The Legislative halls, which ought to be places for calm discus¬ 
sion, and temperate consideration of measures affecting the welfare of 
the commonwealth, have been converted into theatres of unprecedented 
indecorum ; scurrilous declamation against those present, indecent a- 
buse against the absent, have been poured forth without stint, in the 
confidence arising from an accidental superiority of numbers. Free 
citizens of this commonwealtji have been summoned, in the midst of 
winter, from their homes, in direct violation of the provisions of the 
constitution. Honourable men, quietly pursuing the occupations of 
private life; ministers of the gospel, officiating at the holy altar ; 
statesmen elected by the people to the most dignified offices of trust; 





23 


have been questioned before a oeU-coastituteiUribunaLiu regard to their 
private intercourse and conduct, rudely arrested in the midst of their 
defence, and reviled where they had not the privilege to reply. These 
are a few examples of the conduct of cur opponents at the commence¬ 
ment of their reign. Will the freemen of Pennsylvania submit to 
their repetition or their increase? 

But it is not only against their conduct, in the transaction of public 
business, that our voices are to be lifted, and our cflorts to be made?, 
No. Their conduct has been riveted by their acts. Their laws are 
on a par with their deportment. The constitution has declared, in ex¬ 
press language, that an apportionment of representatives is to be made 
every seven years, among the several counties, according to the num¬ 
bers of their taxable inhabitants. This is the very first duty prescri¬ 
bed by the constitution to the legislature ; it is the most solemn aciof 
representative government; it is the source from which flows the pure 
spring of republican institutions ; it is the mode by which the will of 
the people is to be ascertained and carried out. It has fallen to the lot 
of those now in power, to perform that sacred duty ; behold the man¬ 
ner in which they have executed their trust. They have corrupted 
the current at its source; they have framed a law, manufactured for 
the very purpose of misrepresenting the sentiments of tlie majority ; 
they have apportioned the representatives of counties, in notorious op¬ 
position to the number of taxable inhabitants. In the county of Lan¬ 
caster they give 2800 inhabitants a representative, while in the coun¬ 
ty of Schuylkill 4700 have only the same. In the city of Philadel¬ 
phia 2700 are entitled to this privilege, but in the very county that 
surrounds it, 3900 have no greater. In the county of Chester 29(,0 
may choose a representative ; in the county of Westmoreland it re¬ 
quires 4100 to do so. As if to render this gross injustice more striking, 
they have conferred on 2400 inhabitants of the very county in which 
they met, the county of Dauphin, the same rights that 4400 enjoy in 
the county of Lebanon, which is separated from it only by an imagin¬ 
ary line. Yet these legislators had the constitution lying before them. 
Had they been deaf to the calls of equal justice, they should at least 
have regarded the written commands of that instrument which they 
had solemnly sworn to support. 

The same constitution declares that all elections shall be free and 
equal, and that every freeman of twenty-one, resident for two years, 
and having paid his tax within that time, shall enjoy the rights of an 
elector. For one hundred and fifty years, the elections of Pennsyl¬ 
vania have been equal; the citizens of the north and of the south, of 
the east and of the west, have been equal in the enjoyment of this pri¬ 
vilege. It was reserved for the arbitrary rulers of 1836, to make one 
law for the citizens of Philadelphia, and another for the rest of the 
freemen of this commonwealth. Nay more; while it isthe very spirit 
of the age to extend the elective franchise among the people, it was 
reserved for a legislature of republican Pennsylvania, to creep back¬ 
wards in the march of freedom; to affix to a portion of her citizens a 
new qualification never required by the constitution; to establish a 


24 


registry, in imitation of those foreign countries, where the people are 
slowly forcing their rights from impudent aristocracies. They have 
made our elections unequal; if they keep the power, will they long 
suffer them to be free? They have added the qualification of registry; 
if they keep the power, will it be long before they annex that of pro¬ 
perty and wealth? 

It is scarcely two years since the people of Pennsylvania declared, 
with an energy, and in a manner that the most thoughtless could not 
mistake, their uncompromising hostility to the Bank of the United 
States. From one extremity of the state to the other, their voice was 
raised against its audacity. They beheld, with an indignation blen¬ 
ded with contempt, a moneyed corporation, created to serve the com¬ 
munity, assuming to domineer over the politics of the country, and 
tlie rights of its citizens. They united with the democracy of the U- 
nion,and as they believed,terminated its existence and its power. But 
it is not so. With the invasion of represe;ntative rights, and the in¬ 
fringement of the elective franchise, comes the Bank of the United 
States, hand in hand. In proportion as our opponents diminish our 
privilege at the polls, they increase our subjection to the power of as¬ 
sociated wealth. Nay! as if to mock the pride and consistency ©four 
commonwealth, they call this high handed proceeding a Pennsylvania 
measure; they boast of it, perchance in bitter derision, as a benefit to 
Pennsylvania. If it were so, the yeomanry of our state have not yet 
learned to sacrifice political principles on the shrine of pecuniary ad¬ 
vantage. But the history of the last four years must be blotted out, 
before any democrat can believe such an institution to be a benefit; 
before this state can consent to retain within its limits, a power which 
she has already seen both disposed and able to injure the whole Amer¬ 
ican Union. We are told of its capital and its credit; vain fallacy! it 
is in the resources, the enterprise and the labor of our citizens that 
these exist; they were neither brought to us, nor can be taken from 
us, by the stockholders of this bank. We are told of the funds it con¬ 
tributes to our public works; these funds are but the products of our 
own industry, collected in its vaults, and diminished by the portion it 
appropriates to itself; these contributions are^but a trivial deduction from 
that profitable tribute which it intends to exact, during thirty years 
to come, from the earnings of our people. We are told of its chartered 
privileges and its vested rights. We desire not here to prescribe the 
mode to be adopted, at the proper season, to relieve the Commonwealth 
from this insufferable weight; but we protest as Pennsylvanians—nay 
as members of a social community, whose very foundation rests on 
the equal protection and equal welfare of all, we protest against the 
monstrous doctrines, that are confidently broached. We deny that 
where, by fraud, by accident, or even by want of foresight, a povver 
shall be conferred for private benefit and for private ends, it is to be 
irrevocably fixed, although obtained in opposition to the known sen¬ 
timents of a majority of the people, possessing or using the ability to 
elevate or depress at pleasure the value of their property, and exerting 
an influence utterly inconsistent with the nature of their government. 



25 


The republicans of Pennsylvania will be the last to violate chartered 
privileges or vested rights. But they know there are chartered privi¬ 
leges belonging to every American freeman, infinitely more sacred 
than the charter of a bank; they know that vested rights, suddenly in¬ 
vented to assist the pecuniary profits of a corporation, cannot be para¬ 
mount to those, which secure to every citizen the legitimate value of 
his property, and preserve from improper influence and corruption 
the government of his choice. 

Citizens of Pennsylvania! In conclusion we repeat, that no previous 
period has more demanded all your energies, than the present. As 
members of this glorious union; as children of a state dear to us as the 
life-blood by which we are animated; as Americans and as Pennsyl¬ 
vanians, we call upon you to stand forth in your strength. Not that 
there is cause to doubt of our success. We know there is none. But 
the lessons of democracy ought to be so pronounced as not to be mis¬ 
taken; the errors of its opponents ought to be so punished as not to be 
repeated. Let us preserve, for our state, that character of unquestion¬ 
ed republican fidelity, which it has hitherto so proudly maintained; and 
let us, in this age, when, throughout all the civilized world, freedom 
seems to be irresistibly advancing, still press forward, the truest and 
the foremost, in the glorious career. 


Samuel Blake, 
Jacob B. Lyon, 
Samuel Sherfy, 

A Caldwell, jr. 
John Ziegler, 

John B. Marsh, 

Z. McDonald, 

Jas. A. Gibson, 

T. Campbell, 

S. Jones, 

Geo. W. Bowman, 
Joel Ritter, 

Geo. M. Keim, 
William Wunder, 
H. H. Muhlenberg, 
John W. Tyson, 
Charles J. Faber, 
John Boyer, 
Jeremiah Snyder, 
Joseph C. Smith, 
Alex. P. Miller, 
John S. Rhoads, 
p\ B. Schoener, 
Feger Jackson, 
Charles Toucey, 

C. H. Herrick, 
Charles E. Dubois, 


Henry H. Speice, 
James Burnside, 

John K. M’Curdy, 
Josiah Benner, 

John Geyer, 

Thomas M’Creary, 
Andrew G. Miller, 
W. O. H. Robinson, 
Thomas Hamilton, 
Hugh Toner 
James M. Guthrie, 
Wm. Schaeffer; 
George W. Dewees, 
John R. Manderfield, 
Daniel B. Kutz, 
Samuel Myers, 
Benjamin Isett, 

John Heiner, 

Lewis Frank, 
Frederick Lauer, 

A. F. Boas, 

George Smith, 
Samuel Antrim, 

Peter Strohecker, 
Geo. Malsberger, 
Peter C. Ward, 
Huston Thompson, 


R. J. Fisher, 

Isaac Garretson, 
Henry Lattimer, 
Elijah Garretson, 
James Starr, 

Francis Godfrey, 
Wm. D. Morgan, 
Leonard Graves, 
Henry D. Foster, 

J. M. Burrell, 

F. A. Rohrer, 

A. J. Glossbrenner, 
Henry B. Welsh, 
Thomas Jameson, jr 
James R. Snowden, 
David Robinson, 
Hugh Workman, 
William H. Dimmick, 
John Morrison, 

Joseph Russell, 

A. G. Marchand, 

Wm. H. Kurtz, 

Geo. S. Morris, 

David Small, 
Alexander Sprung, 

T. N. Haller, 

Joshua Krause, 



26 


Daniel Y. Harman, 
John N. Solliday, 
John O. James, 

John S. Bryan, 
Samuel A. Gilmore, 
Jacob Ziegler, 
Patrick Kelly, Jr. 
Wm. A. Smith, 

Wm. Latshaw, 
James Gilliland, 

John T. Hoover, 

D. G. Fenton, 

W. L. Moore, 

Isaac Powell, 

Edward F. Evans, 
James Monaghan, 
Wm. W. Downing, 
John G. Boughman, 

E. 0. Jackson, 

F. Wilson, 

H. G. Saunders, 
Thomas J. Hurst, 
Wm. S. Ramsey, 
Geo. W. Crabb. 

Win. R. Gorgas, 
Jason W. Eby, 
Andrew Young, 

E. Brown, 

Samuel Black, 

Jacob Dorsheimer, 
John C. Dunlap, 

John C. Mitchell, 
Hamilton Alricks, 

E. L. Orth, 

Josiah Espy, 

Geo. M. Lauman, 
Capt. John Wise, 

Dr. Wm. Bishop, 
Geo. W. H. Evans, 
David Hume. 

Dr. Wm. C. Parke, 
Augustus Gallagher, 
S. D. Patterson, 
David Pool, 

John H. Briggs, 
Jacob Seiler, 

M. D. Holbrook, 
Frederick Showers, 
Dr. W. J. Sloan, 


Thomas Ross, 
Tobias Worman, 
William Field, 

James Carson, 

Rob’t. D. McKee, 
Thomas Withrow, 
Wm. H. Roushe, 
John H. Morrison, 

J. Matlock Benner, 
David W. S. Cook, 
Ovid F. Johnson, 
James Buchanan, 

C. C. Hemphill, 

H. Warner, 

Isaac Evans, 

Davis Whitting, 
Wm. E. Hains, 

Win. W'^ilson, 

L. B. Rupert, 

B. Rush Petrikin, 
James P. Brawly, 
Wm. M. Mateer, 
John Clendenin, Jr. 
Joseph Wyke, 

Geo. Bollinger, 
Joseph Haverstick, 
Jacob Longenecker, 
Wm. Stough, 
Samuel Davidson, 
Andrew G. Miller, 
John Wightman, 
Walter Triewick, 
John Paul, Jr. 

Wm. Snyder, 

John H. M’Allister, 
John Brown, 

Robert Ken dig, 

Levi Bowman, 

Col. M. Whitley, 

J. Miller, 

Richard Fox, 

George Nagle, 

Jacob Baab, 

Henry Beader, 
Herman Alricks, 
Henry Buehler, 
Benj. Parke, 

Chas. F. Muench 
Wm. D. Boas, 


John Rankin, 

Robert Lewis, 

Daniel W. Mixseli, 
Wm. J. Harmony, 
Charles C. Tombler, 
.Toseph Sigmari, 

C. E. Weygandt, 
John C. Bishop, 
James Dieffenbacher, 
S. H. Stedman, 

H. A. Kerr, 

Stephen VVilson, 

John Souder, 

G. Carpenter, 

S. Shuman, 

Edward Miller, 

E. S. Schwartz, 

J. L. Gallatin, 

H. Preisbr, 

Wm. Power, 

B. Shubert, 

W. Jackson, 

Sam. F. Reed, 

Wm. W. Chew, 
Chas. V. Hagner, 
Robert K. Scott, 
Horn R. Kneass, 
Bartholomew Rees, 
Edmund B. Mixseli, 
Benj. Rush, 

Wm. J. Leiper, 
Alfred Hurst, 

Jos. Worrell, jr. 
Sam’l. Stevenson, 
Alex. M. Peltz, 
Morton M’Micliael, 
Francis J. Harper, 
Robt. B. Knight, 
Thos. Weaver, 
Joseph Ottinger, 

N. K. Seitzinger, 

E. Chichester, 
Ferdinand Whipple, 
M. G. Tyler, 

Artemas Losey, 
William Garretson, 
David Gutelius, 
George Roush, 
Jackson McFaddin, 






27 


Val Hummel, Jr. 
Joshua Facklcr, 
James Buchanan 
Edward Bickel, 
Jeremiah Hoerner 
Solomon Shindel, 
William Mark ward, 
Archibald M’Michael 
Samuel Marquart, 
H(mry Sprigman, 
John Whitmore, 

John Smith, 

A. P. Wilson, 

Geo. Taylor, 

Wm. Buchanan, 

A. P. Owens, 

O. G. Scott, 

Maj. T. P. Campbell, 
Geo. Jackson, 

Thos. McFarland, 
Robert Barnard, 
Jacob A. Christy, 
David H. W’alker, 

H. Blickensderfer, 
Dr. Levi Hull, 
Thomas Feran, 
Thomas J. Haines, 
Reah Frazer, 

Moses Montgomery, 
John K. Findlay, 

M. Manderback, 
Bayard Grosh, 
Thomas E. Franklin, 
Jacob Gilman, 
Edmund Haldeman, 
John Hakk, 

A. M. Cassaday, 
Joseph Cremer, 

Isaac Girvin, 

Samuel Reinhard, 
Abraham Fernsler, 
Tobias Kreider, 

Christ Eby, 

A. R. Harrison, 

Peter Rodermel, 

S. H. Thome, 

John Sowers, 

Wm. Ritcher, 

H. W. Scott, 


Alfred M. Clark, 
Chas. Carson, 
Michael Burke, 
John Brady, 

E. S. Kendig, 
Wm. B. Johnson, 
M, D. M’Donald, 
Samuel Cassel, 
Lewis F. Heck, 
James Nill, 

John Gilmore, 
James Gilmore, 

A. S. Harrison, 

J. B. Moorehead, 
Dennis Buoy, 

B. E. Betts, 

W. K. Rahm, 
Elijah Heath, 

A. Brown Norris, 
S. G. Nesbitt, 

J. W. Hamilton, 

G. Blattenberger, 

J. J. Given, 

I. B. Carpenter, 
Isaiah McCarty, 
Sami. Humes, 

M. Bomberger, 

J. F. Reigart, 

John M. Jones, 
Geo. W. Herring, 
Wm. M’Vay, 

F. Little, 

C. Newman, 

H. Nagh, 

M. Gross, 

Geo. Meily, 
Emanuel Meily, jr. 
Michael Kohr, 
Jacob Weaver, 
George Pfleger, 
George Dingel, 

W. Bower, 

J. Breitenbach, 
Philip Hoffa, 

A. S. Wolf, 

Lyon Lemberger, 
John Seibert, 
Samuel Sheck, 
Henry Winter, 


Hugh M’Clelland, 
John B. Sterigere, 
W. L. Sebring, 
Joseph Howell, 

B. F. Thomas, 
Michael Meyers, 
Jonas Lerch, 

FI. B. Masser, 

C. W. Higgins, 

C. Weaver, 

John W. Miles, 

John Youngman, 
Geo. Stroop, 

Samuel Schrack, 

E. Dromgold, 

Curtis Showalter, 
Mitchell Steever, 
David Deardorf, 
James Wilson, 

Peter Shively, 
Nimrod Eby, 

J. K. Smith, 

David Etter, 

J. M. Pugh, 

Pierce Butler, 

John Thompson, jr. 
Henry D. Gilpin, 
Edmund R. Badger, 
Thomas B. Town, 
Wm. V. Pettit, 

Thos. S. Stewart, 
Morris Longstreth, 
A. M. Howell, 

John R. James, 

John H. Dohnert, 
Benj. E. Carpenter, 
Miles N. Carpenter 
John H. Frick, 

John J. M’Cahen, 
Solomon Westbrook, 
Charles Frailey, 
Daniel Krebs, 
Edward Huntzmger, 
Joseph Woolison, 
George Fuller, 

F. Lusk, 

Josiah Emery, 
George Driesbach, 
John S. Ingram, 


f 


28 


Wm. Huber, 
Joseph Uhler, 

A. Ritcher,jr. 
Cyrus Snevely 
Benj. Moore, 

H. Zimmerman, 
Charles Reinohle, 
W. Shindle, 
Philip Loeb, 

Jacob Dillinger, 
John Shifferstein, 
E. W. Hutter, 
David Lawry, 

M. H. Albright, 
Henry Colt, 

H. C. Piatt, 

A. Cummings, jr. 
Levi Reynolds, 
Jacob Forney, 
JohnStoneroad, 
Thaddeus Banks, 


Samuel Long, 
Henry S. Goshert, 
A. W. Burns, 

E. P. Pearson, 
Samuel Shindel, 
John Breitenback, jr. 
Henry Meily, 

Isaac Solliday, 

Wm. Gangewere, 
Augustus L. Rheu, 
Jacob Erdman, 
Joseph Good, 
Abraham Rinker, 

J. R. Dalrymple, 

F. W. Weiser, 
Nicholas Funstan, 
John McGee, 

W. Perry Robinson, 
Joseph L. McCay, 
James Edmiston, 
Robt. H. McClintic, 


J. M. Ekel, 

A. E. Kapp, 

John H. Hobart, 
James M. Moore, 
Enos L. Reifl, 

Jonas Smith, 

Wm. H. Snyder, 
James Scheetz, 
Benjamin Powell, 

A. S. Wilson, 
Abraham Levering, 
James H. Webb, 
Isaiah W. Davis, 
John S. Weiler, 
Enoch C, Fry. 
Charles W. Brooke, 
George S. Williams, 
James Hemphill, 
John A. Steel, 






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